As the summer art season comes to a close, and we look ahead to autumn’s events – including the legendary Frieze – we thought it appropriate to spend a little time getting to know some of our key art connections a little better. We begin with Kath Boon, Director of Partnerships at Apollo Magazine – one of the world’s oldest and most respected magazines on the visual arts – who we’ve worked with across a number of our clients including The European Fine Art Foundation (TEFAF) and The Treasure House Fair.  

Can you tell us a little about your career path to Apollo?

I came to art publishing from a career in advertising where I worked on campaigns for brands such as BT, Walkers and Gillette.  After the birth of my children, I wanted to change things up.

With the help and support of two great mentors in Jane Morris and Louise Hamlin I secured a role in the advertising sales team at The Art Newspaper and thus began my career in the art world.  After more than a decade at The Art Newspaper and having led its global commercial team, I made the move to Apollo to lead on business development.  It was an opportunity too good to miss.

Can you tell us a little more about Apollo, and what your role at the magazine entails?

Apollo has a long history, almost 100 years, of giving readers the very best writing about art from antiquity through to the present day.  The writing is intelligent, witty and valuable.  It helps that the magazine is also beautiful to look at.  The monthly magazine is still the centrepiece of the brand with the digital channels providing fresh content to our readers every day.  Apollo also partners with international art fairs, often collaborating on their talks programmes and our annual ‘40 Under 40’ survey and Apollo Awards are always highly anticipated.

My role is to build new revenue streams, connecting brands and businesses with Apollo in a way that is mutually beneficial, long term and rewarding.

How has Apollo evolved over the years, and what’s in store for its future?

I think that the values of the magazine have remained pretty constant across the decades actually.   Apollo has always looked back to the art of the past and covered the fresh new talent of the present.

As we approach our centenary year, Apollo feels as relevant as ever and we are incredibly focused on ensuring that we reach new audiences who we hope will always find something new and inspiring within the pages of the magazine and across our digital platforms.  Next year is an important milestone for the title and we are planning some special events to celebrate.

If you weren’t Director of Partnerships at Apollo, you’d be…

I probably would have enjoyed teaching art or art history. When I was at school, a geography teacher randomly gave me a Burne-Jones print and from that point I started exploring art and artists, something that really has enriched my life.  A love of art and art history would be a wonderful thing to encourage. 

What's your favourite-ever piece of art [either that you own or wished you owned!]?

Arthur Jafa’s Love is the Message, The Message is Death.  The first time I watched it I was with my daughter, and it rendered us both speechless.  No matter how many times we watch it … We always find something new.  It is an extraordinary, visceral work.

What do you like to do when you're not working?

I’m not very good at sitting still, in truth.  I have always played a lot of sport, which I still love to do whenever I can. I am afraid I think that I may be happiest wandering round a historic palace or country house estate, as long as I have good company and a glass of wine at the end of it.

Discover more: apollo-magazine.com

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